Shaquille O’Neal has now played his last game in the NBA, officially making the announcement at a Friday press conference near his home in Orlando. Shaq, who said nice things about former coaches Phil Jackson and Doc Rivers, revealed that if he wanted to play for one last season with the Celtics, he would need surgery and face a 9-month recovery. This is why he’s retiring now so the Celtics can move on in a timely manner.

So, what will come of the former Magic/Laker/Heat/Sun/Cav/Celtic? Well, he most certainly will be a Hall-of-Famer. But, it looks like he may step away from the game for a bit as he’s going to spend some more time with his six kids, dubbing himself the Phil Jackson of Little League.

“I want to be a consummate professional. The ultimate goal is to have my 6 children look at me the way I look at my mother & father.”